The Cast of Girls Made a PSA About Supporting Survivors of Sexual Assault (and Dedicated It to the Stanford Rape Victim)

Though the cast of Girls may not always see eye to eye (as they are first to admit), there is one issue they do agree upon: supporting survivors of sexual assault. In a new PSA released Wednesday, Lena Dunham, Jemima Kirke, Allison Williams, and Zosia Mamet stood together in solidarity to blast the "default reaction as a society to disbelieve, or to silence, or to shame" those who come forward about being sexually assaulted.

Citing devastating statistics from the Centers for Disease Control—one in five women will experience sexual assault in their lifetime; 80 percent of attacks are perpetrated by someone a victim knows; one in four girls will be sexually abused before the age of 18—the cast made clear the need for society to offer greater support and create a safer environment for survivors to speak out.

"What if we chose to turn toward those in need, instead of away?" Mamet asks.

The Girls stars detailed ways to help—calling out hurtful remarks, offering a ride to medical care or counseling, or simply listening—but noted that extending support is important "not because she's someone's daughter, or someone's friend, or someone's sister, but because she is someone."

Lena Dunham shared the PSA on Twitter on Wednesday and dedicated the video to the Stanford rape survivor whose harrowing letter detailing her assault has given a voice to thousands of other survivors and highlighted the problematic way in which the law handles sexual assault.

"I dedicate this to the brave survivor in the Stanford case who has given so much to change the conversation." she wrote.

Two Swedish grad students were cycling through the Stanford campus when they discovered Turner attacking what appeared to be an unconscious woman behind a dumpster. They men tackled Turner before he was able to run away and then promptly called the police.

In her letter, the victim thanked the two men, writing: "Most importantly, thank you to the two men who saved me, who I have yet to meet. I sleep with two bicycles that I drew taped above my bed to remind myself there are heroes in this story. That we are looking out for one another. To have known all of these people, to have felt their protection and love, is something I will never forget."